This was an exceptionally strange anime. It was aired chronologically backward, with the first episode being the last episode, and the last episode being the first episode (except for episode twenty five, which shows everything from a perspective of after all the series events have unfolded, to show what everyone is up to now). Although it was done like this, it clearly was not done without planing to do this first. A lot of people were saying you were suppose to watch it from episode 26 to 1, but that was not how it was aired, or meant to be watched, so I opted to watch it as intended, from episode 1 to 26, and I can assure you with confidence now that the series was clearly created to by watched this way. It isn't overly confusing nor does it lack any more fluidity than Yamibou (made by the same people). It was a lot like a movie where they show the end first, and then follow the events to it, or exactly like that Seinfeld episode where they played the events in the episode backward chronologically. So you are missing out, and ignoring the way the creators intended this to be watched if you opt to watch it from episode 26 to 1. It is not just a series they expect you to watch backward, that is how this was specifically intended to be viewed.

The plot: exceptionally weird, and slightly hard to follow. This series moves between ecchi, comedy, drama, really dark themes, and relationship development quite quickly, and abruptly, and the actual plot takes a backseat to them. The story takes place in a land called Kamitsumihara, which seems to be a lot like Camelot, in that it is a legendary place, full of myth, and magic, and it all seems second nature to everyone. Where spirits, magic, and people all co-exist. The story revolves around Yumiko, who is the person who ties everyone else in the story together. She is a novelist, and a vary strange individual. She is warm, kind, and friendly, but she also appears to lack inhibition, or an intelligent awareness of what is happening around her. Her maid, Nene takes care of her. She appears to be a recluse, that only associates with the people that live with her, but herself never leaving the immediate grounds of her residence. Events from her past, as well as from the legendary history of the land of Kamitsumihara tie together, and draw together in away that will allow for closure for them both. The people required to bring this to fruition all gather around Yumiko, at her residence, Touka, Momoka, and Makoto. The fourth individual required for this appears to predate it all, and is some sort of eternal guardian of Kamitsumihara or something, named Kikyou.

Yumiko is a rather strange person, you know off the get go that there has to be something wrong with her.

Touka is Yumiko's son, and is just plainly a dick to everyone except her.

Momoko is an eating machine, that devours everything in sight, she is over considerate to the point of being intrusive, and nosy. She has an obsession with Touka that is simply centered around his looks. She definitely can't like him because he's a nice guy, because he isn't.

Makoto is adorable. She plays the flute, and likes to use Spanish expressions. She has a crush on Momoka, and is not shy about it.

Kikyou is quiet, and calm. Says very little, while everyone worships the ground she walks on. She likes to monologue to herself about how much more informed she is than everyone else, and how she understands so much more than everyone else. Sadly, in her world, it seems this is accurate.

Yuri: 7 (it's 100% fanservice, but it's there, and unapologetic.)
Style: 3 ( a lot of the themes present in this were disturbing, and closely nit with comedic scenes, or ecchi, which I thought completely lacked any style)
Art: 8 (art was beautiful.)
Characters: 4 (I thought they were incredibility generic, and lacked any originality, or uniqueness at all)
Story: 7 (I thought that the actual story, buried under all of the superficial crap they threw in was quite interesting)
Premise: 7 (Premise was cool, and they get points from me for doing something different, and daring.)

Over all 6. I would recommend this to anyone that either enjoys tons of fanservice, or really weird plots and stories, and needs to be tolerant of dark themes.

Posted by:

Wosret

 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

Last Updated (Saturday, 04 October 2008 01:20)